OWENSBORO, Ky. (03/22/2013) – The National Center for Educational Achievement (NCEA), which is a department of ACT, Inc., has named two Owensboro Public schools among only 136 schools on the 2012 NCEA Higher Performing Schools list for Kentucky.

Newton Parrish Elementary School earned the distinction as a "Higher Performing School" in the areas of math and Reading based on performance measures. Newton Parrish Elementary School Principal Steve Bratcher took the time to talk to SurfKY News about the schools distinguished rating.

"It looks like they used the K-Prep from last year and the KCCT from the year before as a guide to rate us," Bratcher said. "We received the rating based on high performance that we achieved at a higher rate than what our socio-economic level would expect."

Bratcher added that the school received the reward because the staff did its job.

"The reason we are here is to teach our students reading and arithmetic, and that is always going to be our focus and if we do that, then all the tests will take care of themselves," he said.

Sutton Elementary School also received a distinguished status for that schools performance in the area of Science.

According to Johnson, this isn't the first time Sutton Elementary has received such honors, however.

"Previously, Sutton Elementary has ranked as a National Title 1 Distinguished School on the 2010-2011 school years," Johnson said.

Johnson credited Sutton Elementary students.

"Our students take this kind of testing very seriously, and they work very hard. We also had great parent support, and our staff works as a family. The goal is to make each child successful," Johnson said.